Academic Advising and Learning Resources

The John B. Drahmann Academic Advising and Learning Resources Center coordinates academic support services for undergraduate students. University advisors in the Drahmann Center work closely with faculty and staff in the Residential Learning Communities, the academic deans’ offices, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Career Center, the Office for Multicultural Learning, the Center for Student Involvement, the Lead Scholars Program, the Office of Accessible Education, and the Dean of Students Office to ensure that academic advising and other academic support services are integrated for the benefit of students.

Santa Clara University follows a developmental advising model based on a close student-faculty advisor relationship intended to assist students with achieving their educational, career, and personal goals through the use of the full range of institutional resources. The Drahmann Center offers training for faculty advisors through new faculty advisor workshops and ongoing training to keep faculty advisors current on University policies and available resources.

The Drahmann Learning Resources Center offers drop-in group tutoring as well as individual tutoring appointments. Consultations and workshops on learning strategies, study skills, and time management provide students with additional support tailored to their specific needs. The Center also provides advising outreach for first-year and undeclared students and collaborates with the LEAD Scholars Program to ensure that first-generation college students are fully informed about the range of support services available to all students.

Health Professions Advising

The Santa Clara University Health Professions Advising program supports students in their preparation for meaningful work in a myriad of healthcare careers: dentistry, allopathic and osteopathic medicine, physical therapy, optometry, pharmacy, and many more.

Health professions advising is available to students from all majors; there is no “best major” to pursue any health profession. Additional details about the program can be found on the Health Professions Advising website: https://www.scu.edu/health-professions/

All essential pre-health advising information  and communications are delivered through the Health Professions Advising Camino page: https://camino.instructure.com/courses/83444

Pre-Law Advising

Santa Clara University offers undergraduates and recent alumni a team of advisors to provide guidance related to (1) vocational discernment and legal career paths, (2) developing an undergraduate plan in preparation for studying law, (3) identifying target law schools and navigating the application timeline, (4) preparing and revising application materials, and (5) laying an early foundation that will lead to a rewarding legal career.

There is no specific major or curriculum required to qualify for law school admission. Successful law school applicants come from a diverse range of majors, across the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, business, and STEM fields. For students seeking a structured course plan, the departments of philosophy and political science offer pre-law emphases within their majors (in philosophy, it is also available within the minor). Several departments around the university also offer relevant courses on an elective basis, regardless of enrollment in an emphasis. Students can find emphasis details and a list of suggested courses on the pre-law website.

Pre-Teaching Advising

Santa Clara University is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to offer professional preparation for prospective elementary school, middle school, and senior high school teachers. The Department of Education in the School of Education and Counseling Psychology offers graduate programs for the multiple-subject credential for elementary grades and the single-subject credential for secondary grades, both with a cross-cultural language and academic development emphasis. The teaching credential program at SCU is combined with a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree. Students interested in teaching should consider completing an interdisciplinary minor in urban education offered through the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Future Teachers Project (FTP), formerly known as the Eastside Future Teachers Project, works with students from traditionally underrepresented groups throughout Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area, who are interested in becoming teachers. Through innovative outreach and support programs, the goal is to develop leaders who will make an immediate impact on their communities. FTP scholars are generally recruited during high school and once at SCU, are considered for the FTP scholarship, which contributes to undergraduate studies and the credential/MAT program. The FTP is managed through the Child Studies Program.

For more information, see Chapter 3, Child Studies Program.